Math 645 ODEs and Dynamical Systems
Instructor: Matthew Dobson (pronouns: he/him)
Class meeting: MWF 10:00am-11:15am LGRT 1234
Course Text: Differential Dynamical Systems by James Meiss (either edition is
fine)
Office hours: T 2p-3p, W 1:30p-2:30p F 10a-11a or e-mail me to make an appointment.
Office: LGRT 1430 (Tower)
e-mail: dobson@math.umass.edu
Office phone: 545-7194
Course Structure and Grading Policies:
- The course will cover chapters 1-6 with additional topics from
chapters 8 and 9 as time permits and according to student interest.
- There will be six or seven homework assignments during the semester.
You are encouraged to work together.
- There will be an in-class midterm on Nov 1 and a final exam on Dec 19.
- The ideas will be illustrated using numerical schemes and students
are expected to participate and present results in class
- The course grade will be a combination of course participation (20%),
homework assignments (35%), midterm (20%) and final (25%).
- Please speak to me at least one week in advance if you need special
exam accommodation or if you need a make-up exam.
- Late policy: Homework is due at the beginning of class on the due date.
Late homework is not accepted except: each student may submit one homework
assignment up to one week late. This is meant to cover any unforeseen absence
from class. If you will miss class for a religious observance or for a
university activity on the day of an exam or homework due date, you must
contact me one week before the missed class to arrange for making up the work.
- Last day to drop with no record is Monday, Sept 16th. Last day to withdraw
with a W is Tuesday, October 29th.
Reading
Week 1: Sections 2.1-2.7. Submit a question, areas of
difficulty, or comment on reading by e-mail by 9/8.
Week 2: Sections 2.8, 3.1 and 3.2. Submit your question on reading
by 9/15.
Week 3: Sections 3.3-3.5, 4.1, and 4.2. Submit your question on the reading
by 9/22.
Week 4: Sections 4.3-4.6. Submit your question on the reading
by 9/29.
Week 5: Sections 4.7-4.8, plus handout given in class Thursday. Submit your
question on the reading by 10/6.
Week 6: Next week we only meet on Thursday, and we will cover the Hartman-Grobman theorem.
Review the handout from week 5. You do not have to send questions on the material this
week.
Week 7: Sections 4.9-4.12. Submit your
question on the reading by 10/20.
Week 8: Review for the midterm. Questions will cover Chapters 1,2,3,and 4 up to 4.8. Material of sections 4.9-4.12 will not be covered. You do not have to submit a question this week.
Week 9: Sections 5.1-5.4. Submit your
question on the reading by 11/3.
Week 10: Sections 5.5-5.6. Submit your
question on the reading by 11/10.
Week 11: Sections 6.5-6.7. Submit your
question on the reading by 11/18.
Week 12: Sections 7.1-7.3. Submit your question on the reading by 12/1.
Homework
Ongoing: your participation grade is determined in part by your e-mailed
responses to Professor Dobson about the background reading.
Homework 1: Due 9/19.
Chapter 1: 4, 7
Chapter 2: 1,6, 14
Homework 2. Due 10/3. Numbers for revised edition.
Older edition in parentheses
Ch 2: 16, 19 (14, 16, 19)
Ch 3: 7, 10, 11 ( 5, 8, 9 ).
Homework 3. Due 10/17. Numbers are for revised 2017 edition.
Older 2007 edition numbers in parentheses
Ch 4: 1b, 4 a,b,c, 8, 17, 18 (1b, 4 a,b,c, 8, 16, 17).
(One problem postponed to next homework)
Homework 4. Due 10/31. Numbers are for revised 2017 edition.
Older 2007 edition numbers in parentheses
Ch 4: 13, 14, 17 (13, 14, 16).
(One problem postponed to next homework)
Homework 5. Due 11/14. Numbers are for revised edition.
Older 2007 edition numbers in parentheses
Ch 5: 1,2,8 (1,2,8)
Homework 6. Due 12/10. Numbers are for revised edition.
Older 2007 edition numbers in parentheses
Ch 5: 9 (9)
Ch 6: 9,12 (9,12)